Coming off Olanzapine
Posted , 94 users are following.
I have been on Olanzapine or over 6 years now from when I was diagnosed Borderline personality traits and all I can say is that I have endured 6 years of living hell. I have been taking 10mg every night for that time and piled on loads of weight, felt lethargic no confidence and started experiencing heart pains. I have had absolutely zero social life in that time and felt unable to think or communicate with other people. I decided just over a month ago to stop the treatment and now am starting to feel much better. I have lost a stone in 2 weeks and look much better ,I am now able to think clearly and have much more energy and motivation to do things. To help me stop the Olanzapine I have avoided alcohol completely (this always put me back to square one in the past). I am finding it difficult to get off to sleep without the aid of the drug but more excercise through the day is helping with this. I will never return to taking this drug again as I feel it has robbed me of 6 years of my life.
11 likes, 335 replies
Guest
Posted
my experience of olanzapine is very similar to yours. but my worse nightmare is trying to come off it. its taken me months of very distressing anxiety symptoms every time i reduce (once a fortnight). however, at night when i suffer the most i drink a glass of cider which helps me thru and calms me down. i'm currently on the tiniest dose of 0.5mg at night, so NEARLY there. another month should see me off it entirely. my advise to anyone even considering reducing is to do it extremely slowly. and wait till your settled on the lower dose a couple of weeks before reducing again. i believe it's called \"discontinuation syndrome\" and has a high incidence coming off olanzapine and is not true withdrawal symptoms.
Ash1234 Guest
Posted
I'm trying to come off olanzapine but I get muddled thoughts till I have 2.5 mg in the morning.i was on 10mg at night.then went to 7.5 but reducing it by 1.5 has caused the muddled thoughts. Is there anything that can help with that while coming off olanzapine ?
zuzana17 Guest
Posted
May I ask how much mg were you on?
I am reducing from 7.5 and feeling not great, lots of anxiety, not interested in activities, just like a zombie.
Were these your similar symptomps?
Thanks Zuzana
melvin11 zuzana17
Posted
You have to be mindful that everyone is different and it is not a good idea to copy another’s tapering.
The real problem for you is whether the meds’ are making you unwell or some sort of mental illness.
Olanzapine is overused- prescribed for any number of mental conditions because it has a mind numbing effect.
I have never seen a good word written for it but you don’t have to look far to see many sad tales of lives ruined by it.
Be guided by your psych but remember; no one knows you better than yourself. Get out as much as you can and live as full a life as you’re able. It is not a practice run.
Best wishes , Mel
ayesha82320 Guest
Posted
hello, Hope you are doing much better now. I came off olanzapine 3 weeks ago and i am experiencing terrible anxiety.
I wanted to ask you how you coped with your anxiety because for me its getting too hard, I dont know if I can go through this for another few weeks....
MazziMaz ayesha82320
Posted
Hi Ayesha,
You can try hydroxyzine for anxiety, take it short term until you feel better.
Have you experienced any Insomnia? I'm on day 13 of my Withrawl from olanzapine (stopped cold Turkey under psychiatrists instructions) and I've not slept for the past 11 days. It's so hard, at times I feel like going back on Olanzapine even though it was prescribed to me for all the wrong reasons 2 months ago.
danielle40719 MazziMaz
Posted
i feel like hydroxyzine is a joke... it in an antihistamine they use it for itching and off label for sleep..Benadryl does the same thing. but thats my thoughts on that... helped me more with my allergies then anxiety.
Guest
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bev11
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colette96619 bev11
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lindsay42947 colette96619
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casey200686 bev11
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Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.
http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages
christine201
Posted
I WOULD NOT TOUCH OLANZAPINE WITH A TEN FOOT POLE! Not after reading the horror stories from people on this med. Thanks for 'listening'.
bridget46879 christine201
Posted
lloyd_28589 christine201
Posted
Hi Christine , jus been reading one of your posts on this forum. I do hope your improving trying to come down off sum of your medications. Im still trying to deal with my coming off Zyprexa im just over 3wks from going cold turkey an it's a terrible drug but im determined to see it thru if I can. I get alot of support from others on the forum going thru or been thru same thing. Im still taking 30mg of Mirtazapine which i cut back from 60mg and in time hope to be off this aswell altho i don't think it is as horrendous as Zyprexa. I also hava Morphine (hydromorph) intrafecal pump in my stomach which delivers via a Catherda tube to my spinal canal jus a fraction from my spinal cord. I have the pump filled up every few wks. The HydroMorphine is releasted on a trickle.. ive had multiple spinal fusions etc and the pump helps me with my back an leg pain. Anyway back to Zyprexa i have terrible aches an pains headaches an terrible insomnia cause of the withdrawals this drug causes. I wish you all the very best with your fight with your various drugs an hopefully u'll get on top of things eventually. Take care Lloyd